Box or crate



Febv.^19, 1935. n g, H. RQLLASQN y 1,991,868

` BOX OR CRATE Filed NOV. 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 9 nNvZgN-rna 3 HTTEJRNEY Fb. 19, 1935. C, H ROLLASQN 1,991,868

BOX OR CRATE Filed Nov. 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTcJF HTTDRNEY Patented Feb. 19, 1935 UNITED. srrA-'rEs PATENT.; OFFICE r OR CRATE Charles H.' Rollason, Wheeling, W. Va., assgnor to Wheelingv Steel Corporation,

Wheeling,

W. Va., a, corporation of DelawareA Application November s, 1931, sen-a1V NQ. 573,3 13. Claims. f (o1.` 22o- 6) A-further object is to Aprovide a` crate of the character mentioned which is adapted to besup-` Y plied-bythe manufacturer in knocked-down form andto be conveniently setup-by the user.V

Inadescribing theinventionn detail, refer,-y

ence is fherein'hadto the-accompanying draw ingsfinfwhichr-YV Figure -11 is lanend` elevation ofthe invention; 4Figure 2 isr a-view partly inside elevation and.v

partly in section; y 20,), Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary detail sectionsntaken, respectively; onlines 3--3 and 4- -4,Fig. 1; i Y i h Figure 5 is a similar section on line 5 5, Fig. 2; Figure ,6 ris aplaneview vof Ijthe body portion of gsrthecrate in its blank,` or knock-down, form; Figure? is aflateral edge View of the same; Figure i8-is anrenlarged plan. view of one of the metallic `frame members;

V.Figure- 9 is'a sideview of the'same Y Figure-10 -isan end-elevationof the same;v Figurefllis a-perspectiveview -of-one of th endsectionsof the Vcrate; and- Figure-l2 is aperspectiveview ofi-one ofI theV rodsibymeans oiwhich the parts of thecrateA body-are Vsecured in` assembled relation.

Referringto saidldrawings,` 1 designates the oppositefparallelside Walls, .2 the end-wal1s,f.and 3jthe bottom of thesubstantiallyrectangularv orange picking Ybox ,or `crate embodyingg-my invention.` ;.,Eachside'wall 1as. alsothe bottom 3', asherein shown,.,comprisesa plurality of 4longitudinally extending vplates or panels, designated. lfand 351,2 respectively,Y preferably of Y longitudinally corrugated form,.. arranged in parallel .relation to .a commonplane and relatively positioned to provide4 intermediate relatively Vnarrow slot-like spaces 4 throughiwhichair may'courseV freely.l A

The ends Vof i the bottom panels 32Lv are rigidly attached, as .by spot-welds 5,v totheunder sides `0f transverse -base portions 6, and the ends of the sidegpanels'` la Vare similarly attached, asatm?,l

disposed tothe uprightrportions `8,` of `oppositely endframes.

Initially, orvprior to settingupthe crate,-e`acl1 "of, said endframes consistoi a single lengthor stripofl-esheet metal which has channel form and which includes ,a bottom member 9 and inner and outer parallel walls V10 and 11, respectively, as is shown in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive. Each Vo f said strips, or channels, has the outer Vwall. thereof 'provided at two appropriately located points with a notchor cut-out portion, 12 of V-shape,

and has provided inthe inner wall 10 similar notches 13 matched as -to shape and location with Said notches `1,2.V So notched, not only is the channel rendered readily bendable at said points4 i for properly positioning the frame portions relativeto theportion 6 when preparing to set up the crate, but also provision is madeV for the formation of miter joints at the Yangles between said members,as shown at 14 in Fig.` 1.

Eachof -theend walls 2 consists, preferably, of a single #sheet-metal vpanel whichis vertically corrugated, as shown. Said wall has its lower edge and 'each of lits opposite lateral edges bent zinwardly, forming right-angle anges 1,5 and 16,

respectively. In assembling the parts of the Acrate, said anges 1,5and 16Yarev introducedto seated positions within the channels of the thereto-adjacent frame `portions 6 and 8, respectively,

followingwhich the innerl walls 10 of said'por-v tions are rbentroutwardly into overlying seated'reflation-tosaidflangesfor retaining said end walls and the sidewalls 1 Vin xedrelation.

As` shown herein, although such is not essenposed substantially midway between. the end walls-2. Said partition wall possesses a structure and-is mounted in Va manner substantially similar inall respectsto the end walls 2, as shown 17 fof hollow roll shape, and similar ribs,vor rolls,

18 are.formed on-the opposite lateral. edges of the bottom panels?. Y For further securing the `side walls 1 and the end walls 2 in assembledrelation, -pairspifrods'r of substantially U-shape are mounted thereon, thevparallel members of said- 1 rods having-'lengths'somewhat lessthan one-half Ythat -ofH the` rolls 17 and being inserted longitudinally within the embrace of certain of said rolls fromopposite ends of the latter, as shown.

Theintermediate, or transverse, member vof each of'said rods occupies horizontal seated relationto the outer surface of the adjacent end Wall 2, as, shown in Figs. 1 and 2. One such rod,

`designated 19, embraces each end of the 'crate i Walls approximately midway between the top land tial-to the-inventiomfapartition wall 2a is disbottom edges of the latter and is retained in position by means of one or more short metal straps 20 carried on the outer side of said end Wall, each of said straps having an end thereof rigidly mounted, as by spot welding, upon said wall and having its other end bent into embracing retaining relation to said transverse member of the rod. Another such rod 21 similarly embraces each end of the crate walls and is located at the top edge of said walls, being retained in place by means of tongues 22 constituted by end ex`` tensions of the walls 11 of the adjacent channel,

said tongues being bent into embracing relation to the transverse member of the rod.

For further reinforcing the crate each of those rib-like rolls 17 and 18 located adjacent to the angles between the side Walls 1 and the-bottom 3 has inserted therein and rigidly held, as by spot- Welds 23, straight rods or lengths of heavy vwire 24, as shown.

When the container is employed as a fruit picking crate, handles are provided on the end walls 2 whereby the crate may be lifted and carried. Each of said handles consists of a single piece of sheet metal shapedto form substantially parallel marginal portions 25 and an intermediate longitudinally extending hand-grip 26, the latter having approximately tubular or roll shape. Said handle has its said marginal portions 25 rigidly attached, as by spot Welds, to the upper edge portion and on opposite sides of the end wall 2, and has the hand-grip forming roll 26 located above the plane of the upper edges of the side walls 1, as is best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 11. An intermediate portion of the upper edge of each end Wall and marginal portions 25 may be cut away, as shown at 2'7, to permit Vof passage beneath said roll of a portion of the hand of the user.

To obviate the exposure of sharp or raw edges at the ends of the panels 1a and 3St of the side and bottom walls, respectively, said panels may, and preferably do, have their said ends turned outwardly and back upon themselves, as shown at 28 in Figs. 2 and 5.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the crate may be furnished either in its built up or knocked down form; that its construction is such that, furnishedv in knock down form, it may readily be set up by any ordinary Workman without the exercise of special skill,

, and that, so set up, it possesses marked stability and durability. What is claimed is- 1. In a container of the character described,

sheet metal side and end walls and a bottom, end frames to which said side walls and bottom are attached, each of said frames consisting of a connecting member, said side walls and said bottom having their opposite ends mounted on the outer surfaces of the frame members, and each of said end Walls having flanges interengaged with said frame members.

3. In a container of the character described,

sheet metal side and end walls and a bottom, end frames to which said side walls and bottom are attached, each of said frames consisting of a sheet metal strip of channel form shaped to form opposite side members and a transverse connecting member, said side Walls and said bottom having their opposite ends mounted on the outer surfaces of the base portions of the channel-like frame members, and each of said end Walls having flanges conned interiorly of the channels of ,said frame Vmembers, rods of substantially U- shape embracing the end walls and the adjacent vends of the side walls and means for retaining said rods in place.

4. In a-container of the character described, sheet metal side and end walls and a bottom, each of said side Walls consisting of a plurality of re1- atively spaced'sheet metal panels having out- Wardly turned rolls formed on the longitudinal edges thereof, end frames upon which said side Walls and bottom are mounted, each of said frames including a sheet metal channel shaped to form opposite upright side members'and a transverse base member, each of said end walls having flanges conned interiorly of the adjacent channel, a rod of substantially U-shape disposed in embracing relation to each end wall and the adjacent ends of the side walls, said rod having the parallel members thereof received interiorly o! v an edge roll of at least one of said side wall panels.

5. In a container of the character described, sheet metal side and end walls and a bottom, each of said side walls consisting o1' a plurality of relatively spaced sheet metal'panels having outwardly turned rolls formed on the longitudinal edges thereof, end frames upon which said side walls and bottom are mounted, each of said frames including a sheet metal channel shaped to form opposite upright side members and a transverse base member, each of said end walls having ilanges coniined interiorly of the adjacent channel, a rod of substantially U-shape disposed in embracing relation to each end wall and the adjacent ends of the sidewalls, said rod having the vparallel members thereof received ineteriorly of atleast one of said side wall panels, and means retaining said rod against withdrawal. 6. A` knock-down container of the character e described, comprising sheet metal side wallsand a bottom, each ofsaid Walls comprisingV sheet metal panels having longitudinal edge-reinforcing ribs'of roll form, end frames to which the ends of said panels are rigidly attached, each of said frames having channel form and being bendable to provide parallel upright members and an intermediate base member, end walls having lateral and bottom ilanges receivable within the channels of said upright and base members, respectively, and adapted to be secured in place by turningof portions of Vsaid members into overlying relation to said flanges, and means for embracing portions of each of said end walls and adjacent end portions of said side walls. Y

7. A knock-down container of the character described, comprising sheet metal side walls and a bottom,` each ,of said walls comprising sheet metal panels having longitudinal edge-reinforcing ribs of roll form, end frames to'which the ends of said panels are rigidly attached, each o! said frames having channel form and being bendable to provide parallel upright members and an intermediate base member, end walls having lateral and bottom flanges adapted to be rigidly mounted Within the channels of said upright and base members, and a rod for embracing said end Walls and adjacent end portions of said side walls, said rod having its ends mounted interiorly of certain of said rib rolls.

8. A knock-down container of the character described, comprising sheet metal side Walls and a bottom, each of said Walls comprising sheet metal panels having longitudinal edge-reinforcing ribs of roll form, end frames to which the ends of said panels are rigidly attached, each of said frames having channel form and being bendable to provide parallel upright members and an intermediate base member, end Walls having lateral and bottom flanges adapted to be rigidly mounted Within the channels of said upright and base members, and a rod for embracing said end Walls and adjacent end portions of said side walls, said rod having its ends mounted interiorly of certain of said rib rolls, and tubular handles xed on upper edge portions of said end walls.

9. In a container, Wall members, certain of said Wall members having means to removably receive the ends of bracing yokes, and bracing yokes of generally U shape each extending across one wall member With the yoke ends in removable engagement with the Wall members shaped to receive them.

` 10. In a, container, wall members including side and end walls, said side Walls having longitudinally extending yoke arm receiving pockets, and yokes shaped to extend transversely of the end Walls and having arms within said pockets.

11. In a container, wall members including side and end Walls, said side walls having longitudinally extending yoke arm receiving pockets, and yokes shaped to extend transversely of the end Walls and having arms withinsaid pockets, said yokes extending transversely of the end Walls adjacent the intermediate portion thereof and being secured thereto.

12. In a container, side Walls of sheet metal having rolled edge portions providing yoke arm receiving pockets, end walls intermediate said side Walls, and bracing yokes extending transversely of the end walls and engaged within said rolled portions.

13. In a container,- end frames, panel sides extending lengthwise of the container and secured to said end frames, and bottom panels extending longitudinally of the container and secured to said end frames, said bottom panels having downwardly projecting beads along the edges thereof.

CHARLES H. ROLLASON. 

